“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3 KJV)

Famous has been creating a new nightly tradition. It does not happen every night, not yet. But after we have had our evening stroll and the house is secure for the evening, Famous comes and looks at me to remind me we still have one more thing to do before calling it a night. We still have to go outside and say good-bye to the day. At first it seemed he might have needed to visit the yard one last time. But he walks out on the porch, and stops, and just takes a look. He takes a long look across the yard.

Perhaps he remembers seeing the deer that sometimes walk our fence line, when he had younger legs and could spring off the porch and chase them back into the woods. That would certainly be an exciting way to end the day!

Perhaps his nose just needs to take in the air of the night for any whiff of skunk or fog or danger, now that his hearing is unreliable. He seems quite full of purpose as he stands at the top of the steps to make his survey. He almost commands the peace that is at hand.

So then I sit on the top step next to him, and he sits by me as I put my arm around his neck. And we just sit for a few moments. It is as if we have come to say good-bye to the day, to thank the world for giving us yet another day together, for the peace and comfort of our home, the joy of our walks, the camaraderie of neighbors who have said hello or waved from their windows.

And then, when he is ready, he stands and turns around to head back into the house, knowing that all’s right with the world and ready for a good night’s rest.